Ryerson Runs

[chinmaster]

We were looking at the Ryerson chinchilla runs, and we like them. The only problem is, unless we can find a wheel to fit in there, they won't have a very good quality of life. So my question is, does anyone know of a wheel that can fit inside the ryerson run? I know that the flying saucer won't fit- so what about leo braun wheels?

[LSerilla]

some one had made their own from Steel dog bowls, and a lazy Susan, I'm not sure how they did it, I think it maybe on this forum or chinstation.

[Spoof]

You won't find a run that can hold a wheel unless you custom build the run. There are members on here who have custom runs that are 2x2x2.

Why do you think they won't have a good quality of life? Mine quit using wheels when they got older, so I took them out. You will have to pull the wheels every time mom has kits, too.

You can make your own - do a search for chinmania wheels and it takes you through it step by step. Make sure they are over 12" for small chins, and 15" for larger.

[chinmaster]

Thanks :) I will tell my father that- he said that they are my chins, and I can do what I think is best for them- so after I get done paying him the $225 for a vet bill that I owe him, I'm getting a run. I convinced him that runs would be ok so I'm sure that he will be convinced that so many people use them w/o wheels. Do you have a picture of a chin in a run, so I can see how much room they would have? I know how big they are, but I want to see what it looks like w/ a chin in it

[tunes]

If you are trying to conserve space by going to the runs, you might consider the holding pens instead. They don't have the jumps on the back and provide just a bit more head room. If you don't plan to use the collars to utilize one male and several females, you may just be happier with those. I have both, trios go in jumps, pairs go in holding pens, as well as using them for weaning cages.

[chinmaster]

I was planing on using the collar with the females- I don't like the idea of 2 females in the same cage with eachother, as one can be unpredictable with other females at some times.

[jencortinas]

I house several females when not in breeding a very large cage. I have yet to have a problem with them. I rotate females in and out, and still have no flying fur!!??

I was planing on using the collar with the females- I don't like the idea of 2 females in the same cage with eachother, as one can be unpredictable with other females at some times.

[chincolores]

Doing custom sized runs depends on how much space you have too. It's the only way one of the saucers or Braum wheels will fit. (Any other sized wheel either isn't good for them - too small or it's junk.) If you're doing breeding runs, why do you want wheels in them?? You either have pets or you have breeders in them. My breeders are pets too and I have runs for the working time for them and then I have larger cages to rotate them to during their break inbetween breeding. It's work time or play time here. :) They seem to get the idea really quickly too. :)

[Vyxxin]

Yeah, if you want your chins to be pets, which obviously you do or you wouldn't be looking for wheels, then you really shouldn't use runs...first of all, not all chins take well to runs. Some can become sick because they're used to a bigger environment, or sometimes a collared female will quit eating, or sometimes a male will fight with a female. And if any of that happens you have to move the female to a new cage anyhow, do you have the money and space for more cages? I'm not saying runs are bad, I use them and I think my chins have just as good a life as any...but for someone like you I'd say it's a bad choice. Why don't you get the holding pens? They're just like runs only they have a bit more space AND the females don't have to be collared...and they're all in separate cages so nobody fights. I have semi-custom runs and they all have sleep-n-ledges in them...I'm also going to be making a set of holding cages with two stories, sleep-n-ledges, and hammocks :)

[chinmaster]

Could you give me more info on the holding pens? Can the male still go in with a female of his choice? Or are they seperated from the males too? When I said "I don't like the idea of putting 2 females together, as one can be unpredictable with other females" I didn't mean in general, I just ment that one of my females can be unpredictable with other females- but is fine with the male. If I did go with the run, and if something were to happen- if I noticed that one of my females wasn't eating, or if she started loosing weight, I could put them back in the other cage. I'm not tight on space- just on the limit of cages I'm allowed to have :) I emailed custom cageworks (i think that's what it's called), and he said that he could make me a custom run to fit what I'm looking for. So I asked about maybe making a 3 hole so that I could fit a braun wheel in it, and I'm waiting for a reply. It is a pain to have to take the wheels out when a chin has kits- and my breeding chins don't use the wheel all that much (except for the male) and I could just bring them out for free run, which they would probably like much better anyways 'cause they get to explor :) Thanks for your help!